Summerlin ranks among country’s top 10 best-selling communities

For the 16th consecutive year, Summerlin is ranked among the top 10 best-selling master-planned communities in America by Robert Charles Lesser & Co. LLC, a national independent real estate advisory firm in Bethesda, Md.

RCLCO recently released figures for 2007 in which Summerlin held the No. 8 spot with 583 home sales.

For 10 of the last 16 years, Summerlin held the No. 1 position -- selling more homes than any other master-planned community in the country.

"The Summerlin success story continues to be one of the most compelling in the real estate development world," said Gadi Kaufmann, managing director and chief executive officer of RCLCO. "Summerlin embodies a success that other communities can only dream of. The fact that Summerlin continues to maintain its appeal nearly two decades after it began developing puts the community in a league of its own."

Rimming the western edge of the Las Vegas Valley, Summerlin encompasses 22,500 acres at the foot of Red Rock National Conservation Area. The community's first home was sold in 1991, and by 1992, Summerlin was ranked as the nation's top-selling master-planned community by national surveys.

According to Kevin Orrock, top division executive of The Howard Hughes Corp., developer of Summerlin, the community's long-term success can be attributed in part to four major factors:

-- The first is the community's geographic location, elevation and proximity to the Spring Mountain Range and Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

-- The second factor is the depth of its social infrastructure that encourages social interaction and fosters a sense of belonging among residents.

-- The third is the variety and abundance of top-quality recreational, cultural and educational amenities.

-- The fourth reason Summerlin is a success is the availability of homes in a wide range of prices and styles built by the valley's leading home builders.

Much of the community is located at an elevation at least 1,000 feet higher than the Las Vegas Strip. According to Orrock, this higher elevation enhances views and offers slightly cooler temperatures, along with a greater variety of naturally occurring desert vegetation.

Summerlin's location at the foot of the Spring Mountain Range and Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area also significantly enhances the community's natural beauty.

"The scenery doesn't get any better than what we have here in Summerlin," he said.

Summerlin's hometown feel is nurtured through a full calendar of social events and activities planned exclusively for residents by the Summerlin Council, the nonprofit arm of the Summerlin Community Association.

Each year, residents enjoy more than two dozen events, including summertime camp-outs in Summerlin parks, evening concerts and seasonal celebrations such as Hometown Holidays and the Summerlin Patriotic Parade.

"Buying a home in Summerlin is a package deal that comes with much more than just a house," Orrock said. "The Summerlin lifestyle is marked by social gatherings that provide opportunities to connect with friends and neighbors."

Today, Summerlin has more than 100 neighborhood and village parks, more than 150 completed miles of trails, nine golf courses, 22 public and private schools, houses of worship representing multiple faiths, business parks, shopping centers and cultural and medical facilities.

As a multigenerational community, Summerlin offers homes in all price ranges and styles, including single-family homes, townhomes and condominiums priced from the mid-$200,000s to more than $2 million. Custom home sites are priced from the $500,000s to more than $1 million.

Luxury apartment homes offer monthly rents starting from the $900s.

For more information, visit summerlin.com or call 888-898-5015.